Giant National Flags Project Inaugurated at Nitzani Oz Memorial Site
Five reservists and entrepreneurs launched a national initiative to erect seven giant flags across Israel, inaugurating the first 61-meter pole at Nitzani Oz with President Isaac Herzog.
Five entrepreneurs and IDF reservists have launched a socio-national initiative to erect seven giant Israeli flags across the country, serving as landmarks of memory, unity, and Jewish heritage. The first flag was hoisted in August at Nitzani Oz in the presence of the president, bereaved families, and freed hostage Elkana Bohbot.
The Birth of the Otif Israel Project
The project was born during the war out of a desire to establish seven massive flags nationwide. The founders include Shlu Atun, Yoav Lazar, Yan Stadin, Shahar Levi, and Michael Lewis.
The first flag was raised on August 18, 2026, in Nitzani Oz, near the 5th Brigade monument, during a ceremony attended by President Isaac Herzog, KKL-JNF leadership, local council heads, and numerous guests. Freed hostage Elkana Bohbot also participated in the event. The flag flutters atop a 61-meter pole, the tallest in Israel.
"The site is designed to serve as a memorial and gathering place, allowing families and groups to hold memorial events and educational activities," the organizers stated.
Site Features and Future Plans
The Nitzani Oz site spans around 800 square meters beneath the towering flag. It features seating areas, pergolas, drinking fountains, electrical points, and walking paths. The initiative aims to provide collective commemoration for families who lack a dedicated memorial site for their loved ones.
The initiative was sparked by the founders' personal stories and a profound sense of national mission. Yan Stadin, a Gaza envelope resident, was evacuated after October 7, having lost friends and narrowly saving his family trapped in Ein HaShlosha. Shlu Atun, a 29-year-old father of three, served over 200 days in reserve duty alongside Yoav Lazar, a company commander who was called up to Kfar Aza on October 7.
Establishing the Nitzani Oz site required approximately three years of work and resource mobilization, with land donated by the Lev HaSharon Regional Council. The project organizers plan to construct additional sites across the country, weaving educational trails that connect local history, the memory of the fallen, and Israeli identity.
